Portfolio About Mel

Creative Services for Small Business & Nonprofits

 
 
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Logos + Branding

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print production

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Design for Marketing

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Web design

You deserve great design.

 

MelBee Design Studio is a graphic design consultancy that provides creative skills and expertise to other budding ENTREPRENEURS and organizations.

Quality visual design, branding, or website design doesn't have to come at a unreachable price tag. At MelBee, great design is in your budget; not to mention you will gain a support system that you can access again and again. Let's create together!

 
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Simplify . Collaborate . Design!

 
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It's time to take your  graphic design or website from a messy jungle...

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to this

 
 

How MelBee can help.

MelBee Design Studio offers creative services in logo/branding, web design, and general graphic design–but also something different. MelBee assists clients with design education, best practices, and insight on managing the visual-side of their business. Whether you are starting from an existing logo or completely from scratch, MelBee can help you to simplify and curate a better business identity that will impress your hard-earned customers.

100% Small Business Friendly. MelBee recognizes that many small businesses, nonprofits, and individuals need services and resources that are transparent, flexible, and authentic. Here are a few more reasons to team-up:

01. AFFORDABLE
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Getting a quote for a creative service that is completely out of reach is so discouraging! Because small businesses and individuals are in mind, MelBee has flexible options for project budgets and long-term tasks and collaborations.

02. PROFESSIONAL
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Looking for someone who knows the ends and outs of a variety of creative-based applications and technology? What about superb design skills and talent? If MelBee can't get the job done, there is a network of creative people to connect you with.

03. SUPPORTIVE
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Just like you're passionate about your business, so is MelBee. MelBee works best with entrepreneurs (and organizations) who have a vision and a desire to succeed. Supporting our local economy is meaningful too.
 

"Mel did a fantastic job for us at Georgetown Cabins Resort in updating our website to be mobile friendly and more aesthetically pleasing! Many of our guests have commented on how they like our website! She is very knowledgeable and helpful in tutoring us. Great job!" – Jon & Susie

 
 

learn.

connect.

Do you have a brand guideline or "style guide"? 👀If not, or if you haven't heard of this–take note! 📝A simple guideline can help you immensely with brand cohesion, especially when you begin placing your branding and logo on different mediums. Don't make your printer or graphic designer guess your color palette...by documenting your *exact* color codes you can easily get the right colors on everything, from printed materials to your website! (Same goes for fonts, graphics, images,etc.) ...⠀ This is another reason why investing in a complete brand package will help you grow more smoothly. If you have already been doing business without a brand guideline (but have been having issues with mismatched colors, fonts, or design elements anytime you go to print or publish something)...consider getting what you have "curated" into a more functional branding suite.⠀ 🖌✂💻⠀ Curating is my jam. If you have an existing partial brand (or a solid logo design) but need some maintenance to get your brand completed–I'd love to help!🙋 Ask me about how I can thoughtfully curate your visual design 💙⠀ ⠀ #creativeprocess #communityovercompetition #brandingdesigner #creativewomen #acreativecommunity #womenownedbusiness #designyourlife #beingboss #freelancelife #solopreneur #bossbabemovement #intentionalbusiness #bossladymindset #ladybosslifestyle #abqlocal #newmexico #graphicdesigner #smallbusinessowner #designforsmallbusiness #supportlocalbusiness #designstudio #creativestudio #savvybusinessowner #graphicdesigner #smallbusinessbranding #brandingdesigner #logodesigns #nonprofitdesign #nonprofitbranding #entrepreneurspirit ⠀
Re-branding doesn't have to come with a sense of defeat; it *can* come from a positive shift in your goals or business plans. 😌 For small businesses or nonprofits, a "re-brand" could mean updating/modernizing their logo (even if means not drastically changing it), adding in some much needed branded elements (i.e. fonts, color palette, images, additional graphics or icons), and zeroing in on a better, overall cohesive brand voice. Think of it as thoughtful "curating". ⠀ ... I feel that if a business has (at some point) invested in a *complete* quality brand and planned for the future, re-branding isn't as likely (at least for some time). However, there ARE circumstances in which a small business may find themselves in dire need of a "makeover":⠀ 1) When a brand feels or looks outdated (especially their logo)⠀ 2) A business's goals or mission has shifted⠀ 3) A logo design exists but nothing else (not a complete brand)⠀ ⠀ If you've hit a wall with your business's brand, seek some fresh perspective while considering a re-brand.🕵️‍♀️There could be ways of slightly adjusting, tweaking, or adding/subtracting certain things to get a better outcome. While there ARE definitely situations where you do need to think deeply about a complete makeover...make sure it is for the right reasons. To help avoid a re-brand (especially if you LOVE your branding), be sure to develop cohesion immediately and having a solid brand style guide is super helpful! 📒💜 ⠀ Stay tuned for more post about branding this week!⠀ ⠀ #smallbusinessowner #smallbussinesslife #designforsmallbusiness #rebranding #smallbizowner #savvybusinessowners #entrepreneurspirit #theimperfectboss #creativebiz #nonprofitdesign #nonprofitwork #creativepreneurs #communityovercompetition #brandingdesigner #freelancelife #solopreneur #bossladymindset #bosschic #newmexico #abqlocal #abq #creativeprocess #nevergiveup #smallbusinesssupport #smallbusinesssupport ⠀ ⠀
It's all about branding this week! In yesterdays post I talked about a brand vs. a logo. Today I have a special Instagram Story where I show you the "branding circle" ⭕️ to help you visualize the some of components that make up a brand. ⠀ Go check it out! 👆👆 ⠀ ⠀ #smallbusinessowner #smallbussinesslife #designforsmallbusiness #rebranding #smallbizowner #savvybusinessowners #entrepreneurspirit #theimperfectboss #creativebiz #nonprofitdesign #nonprofitwork #creativepreneurs #communityovercompetition #brandingdesigner #freelancelife #solopreneur #bossladymindset #bosschic #newmexico #abqlocal #abq #designyourlife #beingboss #freelancelife #solopreneur #bossbabemovement #intentionalbusiness #bossladymindset #ladybosslifestyle⠀
As entrepreneurs or business owners, we hear and see these words a lot: Brand, branding, brand identity, logo. Sometimes these terms are used interchangeability, without much explanation as to where one begins and the other ends.🤦‍♀️🤷‍♂️ ⠀ When I say "brand" you may instantly think "logo". It's probably the most popular (and most understood) visual element in design AND in business. So it is certainly not wrong to think of a logo this way. While a logo IS a super important *part* of your brand, it still only makes up a portion of it.⠀ ⠀ A Brand_⠀ How people / customers / clients view your company ⠀ Branding_⠀ The active process of curating tangible elements that represent your brand [businesses'] image (this where we get 'branding design')⠀ ⠀ Brand Identity_⠀ A collection of those tangible elements: logo, colors, typography, voice, and other visual elements.⠀ ⠀ A Logo_⠀ This is typically the *first* thing that pops into a new entrepreneur's mind. And it should! However, “logo” is singular and doesn’t describe your entire brand. It’s just *one* element within that brand. 👇👇 The easiest way I remember (and in turn, talk about it with my clients) is to think of a "brand" as a circle⭕️. Within that circle is your logo. Add your color palette and the fonts you use, any images, graphics, or special words..put it all in there too. There you have it! Your brand.💁‍♀️ 👆👆 Hope this was informative! Stay tuned for more posts about branding and a special Insta-story this week! Can't wait to share more :)👩‍💻 ⠀ #creativeprocess #communityovercompetition #brandingdesigner #creativewomen #acreativecommunity #womenownedbusiness #designyourlife #beingboss #freelancelife #solopreneur #bossbabemovement #intentionalbusiness #bossladymindset #ladybosslifestyle #abqlocal #newmexico #graphicdesigner #smallbusinessowner #designforsmallbusiness #supportlocalbrand #supportlocalbusiness #designstudio #creativestudio #savvybusinessowner #graphicdesigner #smallbusinessbranding #brandingdesigner #logodesigns #nonprofitdesign
Rabbits, in literature, have long been associated with a "knowing" or even clairvoyance. Seriously, think about...White Rabbit from Alice and Wonderland, Fiver from Watership Down, Rabbit's character from Winnie the Pooh; then of course Aesop's Fables has plenty of worrisome bunnies. 🐇 ⠀ Maybe rabbits know best? This blue rabbit knows where to find the best tea 🍵 😋 Logo design for: The Blue Rabbit Teahouse⠀ ⠀ ...⠀ In the coming week(s)–will be having a mini Instagram info session on branding vs. logo design; the difference, and what is looks like to use the “things” that are included in a brand...with small businesses, solopreneurs, and nonprofits in mind. ⠀ #creativeprocess #communityovercompetition #brandingdesigner #creativewomen #acreativecommunity #womenownedbusiness #designyourlife #beingboss #freelancelife #solopreneur #bossbabemovement #intentionalbusiness #bossladymindset #ladybosslifestyle #abqlocal #newmexico #graphicdesigner #smallbusinessowner #designforsmallbusiness #supportlocalbrand #supportlocalbusiness #designstudio #creativestudio #savvybusinessowner #graphicdesigner #smallbusinessbranding #brandingdesigner #logodesigns #ilovetea #booksandtea
Ha! Some days can be described in one word. 😜 Btw, Google says "ouf" is french (?!) for "whew". ⠀ ...⠀ Podcasts episodes I'm listening to / listened to: ⠀ - How to Start a Nonprofit (RISE)⠀ - Offering a Service at "Pay for Results" Pricing w/ Lisa Robbins Young (What Works)⠀ - Kristi Porter of Signify, Ep. 96 ⠀ (Business with Purpose)⠀ - How to Simplify Your Life & Reduce Stress (Christy Wright's Business Boutique)⠀ ⠀ #creativeprocess #communityovercompetition #brandingdesigner #creativewomen #acreativecommunity #womenownedbusiness #insearchofjoy #designyourlife #beingboss #freelancelife #laptoplifestyle #solopreneur #bossbabemovement #intentionalbusiness #bossladymindset #ladybosslifestyle #abqlocal #newmexico #graphicdesigner #smallbusinessowner #designforsmallbusiness #abqlocalbusiness #supportlocalbrand supportlocalbusiness #nonprofitdesign #designstudio #creativestudio #savvybusinessowner⠀

Good design is good business.

- thomas watson jr.

 
 
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